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I am having vision issues which is terrifying to someone whose work and interests lie in reading and writing. Because of this, I am falling behind in some of my reviewing commitments and ask for your support and patience.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Might As Well Laugh About It Now...Review

About the book:Recollections, wisdom, and advice from the beloved entertainer, American icon, mother of eight children, and New York Times bestselling author.

When the Donny and Marie show ended its award-winning run on ABC in 1979, 19-year-old Marie was ready to leave the stage lights for a secretary’s life—she had prepared to say “goodbye” to fleeting fame by studying shorthand and typing! Clearly, life took a different turn.

Now, decades later and still a beloved superstar, Marie opens the door to her thoughts on many of her milestones and missteps, both the public and the personal. In a life brimming with a mixture of charm and chaos, blessings and hilarious bungles, victory and vulnerability, Marie recounts for her “family of fans” her greatest successes as well as her most crushing disappointments, career pressures and expectations, marriage and divorce, depression, weight issues, tough choices, honors and awards, and the incredible joys and challenges of raising children. Through it all, Marie has bounced back time and again with unstoppable enthusiasm, resilience, and an unbeatably healthy and positive outlook on life.

In Might as Well Laugh About It Now, she imparts her insights on surviving all of life’s roadblocks and detours in a collection of friendly musings and heartening advice about learning to survive— and moving forward—with humor and optimism.

Entertaining, but disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed Marie's first book, Behind the Smile. This one was a bit of a let down. More a series of vignettes than an autobiography or memoir, Marie shares life experiences and the wisdom she gained from her own experiences as well as the example of others. Her main point is that life is better when you have a sense of humor and can laugh about it. I can't disagree.

What I found disappointing is that much of Marie's humor is meant to distract you from getting too close. I've seen this in interviews she's done and sometimes her humor seems inappropriate. There's also a sense of exaggeration that leaves you wondering what really happened and what is embellished.

I have no doubts that Marie's life hasn't been easy. I know she's overcome a great deal with regards to abuse, postpartum depression and divorce. I admire that pluck and the ability to handle it when everything goes wrong.

An entertaining, light read. Thanks to my local library for having a copy I could borrow. You can purchase your own copy here.

I think your points are spot on with this book.I have seen other bloggers' reviews where they pick up exactly what you picked up as in not all the details are there and that she uses humor as a distraction.Really disappointing considering most people would buy to get the whole story and then it turns out to just be a part of it.Holly I have an award for you on my blog.

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